Abu Dhabi: The exit of the legends Misbah-ul-Haq and Younis Khan has left a huge hole in Pakistan’s batting armoury. It can only be filled over time but a shuffle in the batting order could help them cope with the absence.
On Thursday, the Pakistan selectors have their first chance to find a solution under the new leadership of Sarfraz Ahmed as they take to the field for the first Test against Sri Lanka at Shaikh Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi.
Sarfraz confirmed on Wednesday that Sami Aslam and Shan Masood will open the batting and Azhar Ali will drop to No. 3. Unofficial deputy Asad Shafiq, who has not been in the best of form in recent times, will have a huge role to play if he is, as expected, promoted up the order to No. 4, followed by Babar Azam.
In all probability, Haris Sohail will make his debut at No. 6. Captain Sarfraz coming in at No. 7 should add tremendous stability to the lower order. They are expected to stick with all the three pacers who figured in the series against the West Indies - Mohammad Amir, Hassan Ali, Mohammad Abbas alongside spinner Yasir Shah.
Shafiq being pushed to the No. 4 slot could be regarded as a risk, considering how well he has done at No. 6. A veteran of 56 Tests who has made centuries in Australia, England, South Africa, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka as well as three at “home” in the UAE, he has the most Test 100s batting at No. 6. With nine of the 10 centuries coming at that position, he has also overtaken West Indies great Gary Sobers in the record books.
Now, it remains to be seen how he will fare higher up the order.
Sri Lanka, thrashed by India at home, will also be forced to shuffle in their batting line-up in the absence of Angelo Mathews, Upul Tharanga and Asela Gunaratne.
Mathews was the highest scorer in the Test series during Sri Lanka’s last tour here. He scored 412 runs in five innings at an average of 103 and his 157 had helped them secure a win in Dubai.
With Mathews out due to a calf injury for the first Test, captain Dinesh Chandimal’s biggest concern is the lack of batting experience and he will be under tremendous pressure to lead from the front.
Chandimal did not have much success with the bat in the recent series against India and during the last tour of the UAE in 2013-14. Vice-captain Lahiru Thirimanne is Lanka’s best batting option as he has shown form against India in the three recent one-dayers after returning from an 18-month injury layoff.
Sri Lanka are likely to pick one of the two uncapped batsmen Roshen Silva and Sadeera Samarawickrama. The 22-year-old Samarawickrama has notched up six first-class 100s and an average of 47 but Silva, 28, is more likely to get the nod given his vast experience in first-class cricket where he averages 48.
Dimuth Karunaratne and Kaushal Silva will also have a huge role to play with bat.
Sri Lanka should not struggle in the bowling department as Rangana Herath, Suranga Lakmal and Nuwan Pradeep were very impressive here on the last tour. Herath picked up 14 wickets, Lakmal 12 and Pradeep five in his one match.
Catch-the-match
Pakistan vs Sri Lanka, first Test
Shaikh Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi
Starts at 10am
Live on Ten Cricket
